Maintenance Tips That Will Extend the Life of Your Car

(Part 7)

Reader’s Digest Editors

We’ve compiled our best expert advice, surprising tricks, and car
care tips to prolong the life of your automobile.

Avoid hose hassles

7TH SON STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK
Check the hoses under your hood every month or two to avoid the hassle of a
broken hose while you’re on the road. With the car cool and off, squeeze the
hoses. If they are hard or make a crunching sound, replace them. Ditto if they
are extremely soft or sticky. With the car warm but off, examine hoses for
bulges and collapsed sections. If you find any, the hose walls are weak, and it’s
time to replace the hose. Never drive with a ruptured coolant hose, or you are
liable to overheat the engine and damage it. Other hoses are crucial to the
operation of your power brakes and cruise-control systems.

Test drive-belt tension

CHAINFOTO24/SHUTTERSTOCK
Check the tension and condition of your drive belt (or, with many cars, multiple
belts) every month. Belts that are too tight can wear out the bearings in
accessory components, such as AC compressor, water pump, and power-
steering pump. Belts that are too loose will wear out faster and may fail
prematurely. Perform your examination before you start the car to avoid injury
due to a hot belt or moving engine part. Check for tension by pressing in the
center of the belt’s longest exposed run while holding a ruler next to it. If you
can depress the belt 1/ 2 to 1 inch (13 to 25 mm), but not more or less, the
tension is good. If not, adjust the belt tension yourself according to your car’s
service manual, or have your dealer or auto repair service do it. Also check for
belt damage, such as glazing (often due to oil leakage), fraying, and cracks. If
you spot damage, have the belt checked by a pro and replaced if necessary.

Don’t forget the timing belt

SVAIOPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK
On many cars, it’s the belt you can’t see that is the most critical. If your manual
says, as many do, that you should replace the timing belt at 50,000 miles, do it!
A failed timing belt can, depending on engine type, cause thousands of dollars
worth of damage to your engine.

Clean your engine

BHAKPONG/SHUTTERSTOCK
There are several reasons to wash your engine at least every year or two. A
clean engine will run cooler than a dirty one. You’ll be more apt to tackle routine
belt and hose checks and the like if you know you won’t get covered with grime
every time you do so. A clean engine will also make it much easier to spot leaks
and to service components. Remember to protect sensitive engine components
—including the air intake, distributor, and electrical parts—with plastic bags
before getting started. Use dishwashing liquid or other grease-cutting
detergents and a bristle brush to scrub engine and components surfaces. Rinse
thoroughly. Heavy-duty engine cleaning products are available at automotive
parts stores. Follow the directions carefully. You may also have your engine
professionally steam cleaned.

Run your AC in winter

GREGMCGILL/SHUTTERSTOCK
To keep your car’s air-conditioning system fit for the next warm season, run it a
few times throughout the winter. This will prevent moving parts in the
compressor from seizing. Also, circulating the refrigerant will help keep the
seals soft and pliant.

Maintain your car’s battery

CC7/SHUTTERSTOCK
Maybe the manufacturer says your battery is maintenance free, but don’t you
believe it! Check your battery regularly to extend its life and avoid the hassle of
being stranded with a dead battery.
● Begin with the simple: keeping your battery clean. A dirty case can
actually cause current to drain. Wipe with a damp rag. Use a mild detergent
if necessary.
● Next, clean the battery posts or terminals. Loosen and remove the
negative cable (black or minus sign) first, then the red positive cable. Use a
brass wire battery brush dipped in a paste made from a few tablespoons of
baking soda and a little water.
● Inspect the battery case for damage, such as cracks or bulges—signs
that a battery needs to be replaced.
● Reinstall the cables, positive first, and coat the terminals and clamps with
a thin coating of grease to prevent new corrosion.

Some batteries need water

JOEBELANGER/SHUTTERSTOCK
If your battery has vent caps, remove them to check the level of the electrolyte.
It should rise 1/2 inch (13 mm) above the battery’s top plates. If it doesn’t, use
distilled water to raise the level to 1/4 or 3/8 inch (6 or 10 mm) below the
bottom of the vent cap. Don’t use tap water, as it may contain minerals that can
damage your battery. Mechanics should check your battery as a part of your
regularly scheduled maintenance, but they often skip the procedure. Be sure to
ask to have it done.

Be kind to your battery

CC7/SHUTTERSTOCK
If you inadvertently leave your lights on and drain your battery, take the
following precautions to prevent damage to the battery and the starter when
jump-starting your car:
● Don’t risk causing the battery to explode. With both cars off, connect a
positive cable end to the positive battery terminal of the dead battery.
● Connect the other positive cable end to the positive terminal of the source
battery.
● Connect a negative cable end to the negative terminal of the source
battery.
● Attach the remaining negative cable to unpainted metal on the car engine
(as far from the dead battery as possible).
● Wait a few minutes and try to start the disabled car. If it doesn’t start, start
the source car and then try starting the dead one again.
 ● When the car starts, be careful to disconnect the cables in the reverse
order.
● If the car still doesn’t start, don’t keep trying to charge it or you are liable
to damage the starter. Bring the battery to an automotive shop to see if it
can be recharged.
● Even if you’re successful, ensure a full recharge by hooking up the battery
to a charger overnight or by driving the car for 5 or 10 miles (8 to 16 km).

Seal a leaky radiator

APPSTOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK
Save the high expense of a new radiator by trying to seal a leak with a radiator
sealer, such as Alumaseal from Gold Eagle Co. Available in powder or liquid
form, the product circulates in the radiator until it gets to the hole, where it sets
up and fills the hole upon contact with the air. Alumaseal may be used to stop
heater core leaks as well.

Dilute your coolant

RASTA777/SHUTTERSTOCK
Your cooling system needs both coolant-antifreeze and water, so don’t pour
undiluted coolant into your cooling system. Dilute it with water to the commonly
recommended 50-50 ratio. Similarly, don’t use straight water in your system
either.The coolant protects against corrosion and freezing.The water ensures
good heat transfer from the coolant to the radiator.